Written Answers Thursday 20 December 2007

Scottish Executive

Airports

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd to develop and market new routes from the highlands and islands to Europe and other parts of the United Kingdom.

Stewart Stevenson: Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd is substantially funded by the Scottish Government and will continue to offer incentives to airlines for the start up of new routes from its network of airports.

Animal Welfare

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote good standards of animal welfare.

Michael Russell: The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 was a significant step in promoting the welfare of animals. The act increased the penalties for animal cruelty, imposed a duty of care on those responsible for animals, allowed animals in danger of suffering to be removed and gives Scottish ministers the power to make regulations to secure the welfare of animals.

Class Sizes

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its statement that "local government will deliver year-on-year progress in reducing class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3 to a maximum of 18 pupils" ( Official Report , c. 4067), when it expects the reduction to be complete.

Maureen Watt: The delivery of a reduction in primary 1 to primary 3 class sizes to a maximum of 18 will be dependent on the rate of progress made by individual local authorities. We expect local authorities to make year on year progress towards reducing primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18 pupils.

Council Tax

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Edinburgh would gain and how many would lose from a council tax freeze.

John Swinney: Based on our latest information, over 170,000 households will gain from a council tax freeze. No household will lose.

Council Tax

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the council tax freeze will benefit all household income deciles.

John Swinney: Yes. On average households in Scotland across all income deciles and council tax bands will be better off with a council tax freeze.

Dentistry

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to expand the provision of NHS dentistry in north-east Scotland.

Shona Robison: NHS Grampian has a number of developments underway to provide increased access to NHS dental services.

  A four surgery dental facility opened in Banff in October 2007.

  Building work has commenced in respect of new dental facilities in Buckie and Keith and a further development in Elgin is underway.

  A two surgery dental facility is scheduled to open in Lossiemouth in March 2008.

  Good progress is also being made towards the establishment of a third dental school in Aberdeen.

  NHS Tayside were allocated £3.4 million under the Primary and Community Care Premises Modernisation Programme for the redevelopment of the Kings Cross site in Dundee. The Dundee Primary Care Dental Access Centre at Kings Cross will have 10 chairs in total and is due to open in early 2008.

Energy

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been undertaken to assess Scotland’s future energy requirements.

Jim Mather: Scotland’s energy requirements are met by the private sector within a regulated market. However, the Scottish Government takes a range of actions to promote the development of clean energy, including provision of financial support to renewable technologies, with the objective of reaching our target of 50% of Scottish demand for electricity being met by renewable sources in 2020.

  I and my officials also regularly meet National Grid, Ofgem and energy companies to discuss any barriers to development, such as the current transmission charging regime, and to satisfy ourselves in relation to security of supply.

Equal Opportunities

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether recent comments by Trevor Phillips, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, about the celebration of Christmas will affect its equal opportunities policies.

Stewart Maxwell: No, this will have no affect on our equal opportunities policies. We believe that Christmas should be celebrated and attempts to downplay Christmas celebrations for fear of offending other religious communities are misguided.

Finance

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has for the use of the unallocated asset fund of dormant bank accounts and whether it will consider using some of this money for the provision of music rehearsal space for young people.

Jim Mather: We have been working with the UK Government to ensure that Scotland’s share of any assets released through the Dormant Bank and Building Societies Accounts Bill is spent on Scotland’s priorities.

  The Scottish Government intends to consult widely with the third sector and others in the New Year on the priorities for distribution and will welcome all contributions to this discussion.

Gaelic

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the £14.4 million Gaelic budget for 2007-08 is being spent on, broken down by (a) organisation, (b) local authority and (c) other recipient and for what purpose the money is being allocated in each case.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what adjustments were made to the £14.4 million Gaelic budget shown on page 80 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 as part of the general process of adjusting baselines for budget comparison purposes.

Linda Fabiani: The £14.4 million in the Gaelic budget for 2007-08 has been allocated for Gaelic Broadcasting (£8.9 million), Bòrd na Gàidhlig (£4.664 million) and to local authorities for Gaelic education (£850,000). (The Bòrd na Gàidhlig amount included £235,000 which has been transferred to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig from 2006-07 onwards.) This funding is targeted to key areas of Gaelic development with the aim of creating a sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland.

  The published budget of £14.4 million for 2007-08 has been supplemented by additional resources from other Scottish Government budgets. No adjustments were made to the budget as part of the general process of adjusting baselines for budget comparison purposes. Fuller information about funding for Gaelic is included in the answer to question S3W-7483 on 20 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Gaelic

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what actual outturn expenditure on Gaelic is estimated to be for 2007-08 and what this is being spent on, broken down by organisation, and for what purposes.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget for Gaelic for (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11, as shown on page 80 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, is to be spent on and for what purposes.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assumptions lie behind the reduction in resources for Gaelic for (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11 compared with the figure for 2008-09 and what the reasons are for this reduction.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it plans to spend on (a) the Gaelic Specific Grant, (b) Bòrd na Gàidhlig, (c) Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, (d) Gaelic Media Services and (e) the Gaelic Digital Channel and from which budgets in each case and which of each of those funding elements and amounts is represented in the (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09, (iii) 2009-10 and (iv) 2010-11 figures presented in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 .

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations have regularly received funding directly from the budget for Gaelic in each year since 2004-05; what amount each received in each year and for what purpose, and what assumptions of continuing funding, and at what level, are contained in the budget figures for Gaelic published in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 .

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any funds intended for Gaelic not contained in the table on page 80 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government’s spend on Gaelic for the years 2004-05 to 2006-07, the projected outturn for 2007-08, and the planned budgets for 2008-09 to 2010-11 are shown in the attached table. This funding is targeted on key areas of Gaelic development with the aim of creating a sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland.

  The planned budget for 2008-09 includes a one-off capital sum of £2 million. Revenue funding available for Gaelic therefore remains constant throughout the period from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

  The published budget for Gaelic for 2007-08 (£14.4 million) has been supplemented by additional resources from other Scottish Government budgets. These amounts have been included in the projected outturn for 2007-08 and in the planned budgets for future years.

  Gaelic Funding 2004-05 to 2010-11

  

 Organisation
2004-05 Outturn
2005-06 Outturn
2006-07 Outturn
2007-08 Projected Outturn
2008-09 Planned Budget
2009-10 Planned Budget
2010-11 Planned Budget


 Gaelic Television
 8.5
 8.5
 11.9
 11.9
 11.9
 11.9
 11.9


 Gaelic Television (SR)
 
 
 
 
 0.5
 0.5
 0.5


 Bòrd na Gàidhlig
 2.405
 2.650
 4.409
 4.409
 4.409
 4.409
 4.409


 Specific Grant and Gaelic Education
 3.534
 3.614
 4.614
 4.614
 4.614
 4.614
 4.614


 Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
 
 0.9
 1.25
 1.25
 1.25
 1.25
 1.25


 Capital
 
 
 .250
 .350
 .350
 .350
 .350


 Capital (SR)
 
 
 
 
 2.0
 
 


 National Plan Implementation, (SR)
 
 
 
 
 1.0
 1.0
 1.0


 Gaelic Education (SR)
 
 
 
 
 1.0
 1.0
 1.0


 Total
 14.439
 15.664
 22.425
 22.523
 27.023
 25.023
 25.023

Gaelic

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the budget for Gaelic, as shown in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 , it is assumed will transfer to local authorities over the period of the spending review under the terms of the recently signed concordat and the move toward less ring fencing of funding.

Linda Fabiani: Gaelic specific grants are available to local authorities to assist with the cost of delivering Gaelic education within their area, or towards the cost of providing access to Gaelic education in another authority’s area. Specific grants will not transfer to local authorities over the period of the spending review under the terms of the recently signed concordat.

Gaelic

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision has been made in the spending review to implement its own Gaelic language plan.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds from among the funding available through Bòrd na Gàidhlig for Gaelic language planning the Executive expects to bid for to implement its own Gaelic language plan.

Linda Fabiani: No specific provision has been made. Costs related to the provision of Gaelic services by the Scottish Government are met from within existing budgets. We have no plans to bid for resources from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Globalscot Conference

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth went to the Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, New York on 2 December 2007 on the occasion of the Globalscot Conference and, if so, which officials accompanied him.

John Swinney: I attended the reception at the Trump National Golf Club and was accompanied by a member of my Private Office. The Director General Economy and Director for Europe, External Affairs and Culture were also present at the reception.

Globalscot Conference

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why VisitScotland selected the Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, New York as a venue for an event, given that it is separately located from the main event venue.

John Swinney: Another venue was required because the main venue at Armonk could not offer a facility for the exclusive use of the conference welcome and networking reception. The Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, was chosen because of its relative proximity, and suitability, and because of the exclusive use which could be made of its facilities.

Globalscot Conference

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all the hospitality provided at the Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, New York during the VisitScotland event on 2 and 3 December 2007.

John Swinney: An event was held at the Trump National Golf Club to welcome participants to the Globalscot Conference and to give them an opportunity to network with each other. This comprised a two and a half hour-long reception at which food, refreshments and music were provided. The public sector cost of the event was circa £15,000, for which sponsorship was provided by VisitScotland. A further cost in respect of branded drinks consumed was sponsored by Pernod Ricard. There was no subsidy or sponsorship by the Trump Organization, to whom the full commercial rate for use of the facility, was paid by Scottish Enterprise.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to pilot the model of a single regional registered social landlord developer referred to in Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland .

Stewart Maxwell: Firm Foundations does not propose a single regional registered social landlord (RSL) developer. Rather, it proposes channelling subsidy to one developer who would take the lead in delivering new housing for a number of RSLs across a specified area, over a period of several years. The Scottish Government will consult on its proposals for introducing large scale competition for subsidy next year.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held with housing organisations regarding Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland  and the strategic spending review.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings are planned with housing organisations regarding Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland and the strategic spending review.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has met numerous housing organisations to discuss the wide ranging proposals set out in Firm Foundations , including tenant representative organisations, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Shelter, the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, the West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations, Registered Social Landlords, the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers and Employers in Voluntary Housing. Further meetings with tenant and housing organisations are planned to take place before the end of the Firm Foundations consultation period.

Leisure

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to page 47 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 , how the "increase in the proportion of adults making one or more visits to the outdoors per week" will be monitored.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Recreation Survey, undertaken by Scottish Natural Heritage on a monthly basis on a demographically representative sample of 1,000 adults living in Scotland, will indicate how many visits to the outdoors are undertaken per week.

Local Government Concordat

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the outcome agreements with local authorities as they relate to (a) sports funding, (b) mental health support and services and (c) care for elderly people will be made known.

Stewart Maxwell: As part of the new concordat agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA, each local authority will aim to reach a single outcome agreement (SOA) with the Scottish Government at the earliest opportunity, based on the national outcomes and, under a common framework, local outcomes to take account of local priorities. The SOA will cover all local government services in each local authority area as well as a significant range of the responsibilities of Community Planning Partnerships where local authorities have a significant part to play. The initial agreements would be with each of the 32 councils with the possibility of agreements with Community Planning Partnerships at some future date.

  We are currently in discussion with COSLA about the mechanics of introducing SOAs with each council for 2008-09.

Local Government Finance

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the £11 billion block allocation to local government and the £8 billion block allocation to NHS boards are aligned to contribute to sustainable economic growth.

John Swinney: Together, the GES and Scottish Budget provide the approach and the strategic framework to ensure that government spending supports local government, NHS boards and other public services in meeting our overarching purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth.

Ministerial Engagements

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth had in New York on 3 December 2007 and who was present at each engagement.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth had in New York on 2 December 2007 and who was present at each engagement.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what events were attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on his visit to the United States of America on 2 and 3 December 2007, showing (a) the host organisation, (b) the venue, (c) who paid, and (d) the names of all the guests and organisations they represented for each event.

John Swinney: On 2 December 2007, I attended the GlobalScot Welcome Reception, which was held at the Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, New York. Scottish Enterprise arranged the reception and VisitScotland Business Tourism Unit were the sponsor of the reception. The list of attendees is confidential but I can confirm that no member of the Trump Organizsation was present.

  On 3 December, I spoke at the Alexandria Real Estate Equities Conference which was held at the St Regis Hotel in New York. The conference was arranged and paid for by Alexandria Real Estate. The list of attendees is commercially confidential to Alexandria Real Estate but I can confirm that no member of the Trump Organization was present. Alexandria Real Estate arranged for me to be flown by helicopter from central New York to Armonk to fulfil a speaking commitment and Alexandria paid for this trip.

  I attended the Americas Globalscot Conference, which was held at the IBM Learning Centre, Armonk, New York. The conference was organised and paid for by Scottish Enterprise although some of the costs were offset through delegate fees and sponsorship from IBM and VisitScotland’s Business Tourism Unit. The list of attendees is confidential but I can confirm that no member of the Trump Organization was present.

  I then undertook a television interview at Fox Business News and a telephone interview with National Public Radio. Officials from the Scottish Affairs Office in Washington, Scottish Development International (SDI), my Private Office, and a representative of Weber Shandwick - who act on media matters for SDI - were present.

  In addition I visited Corporate Satellite Communications and met with the President and Managing Director of CSC. Officials from the Scottish Affairs Office in Washington, SDI and my Private Office were present.

Ministerial Engagements

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was any sponsorship or in-kind support for any of the events attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth during his visit to the United States of America on 2 and 3 December 2007.

John Swinney: IBM Scotland provided £20,000 in cash sponsorship towards the Americas Globalscot conference. VisitScotland Business Tourism Unit provided £15,000 in cash sponsorship towards the Conference Networking reception held at Trump National Golf Resort. Pernod Ricard provided "in-kind" support for the Globalscot Welcome Reception by providing branded drinks during the evening (the estimated value is £5,000). Alexandria Real Estate paid for a helicopter flight from central New York to the IBM Learning Centre in Armonk to enable me to fulfil two speaking engagements in close proximity.

Ministerial Travel

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what journeys were undertaken by the First Minister using the Government Car Service on 3 December 2007.

John Swinney: The First Minister issued a statement on 11 December 2007, which noted that he was at an official engagement in Inverurie on 3 December launching a major show for the Scottish meat industry, using a government car. He then travelled to Aberdeen with his special adviser to complete government business and to prepare for government business in Aberdeen the next day. The First Minister made no other journeys on this day in the government car.

NHS Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses have achieved a diploma in asthma under Education for Health’s education and training programme in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information is not available in the format requested, but I understand that 450 nurses have been supported to undertake this course.

Non-Domestic Rates

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in Inverclyde will benefit from the proposed cut in business rates.

John Swinney: Based on the latest information we hold, 1,672 business properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or less in Inverclyde may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme. The number of eligible businesses will depend on a number of factors, including whether the combined rateable value of an individual business’s properties exceeds £15,000.

Planning

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the occasions on which the First Minister (a) met and (b) spoke to Mr Jim Mackinnon, Chief Planner, between 20 November and 10 December 2007, also showing the matters discussed on each occasion.

John Swinney: The First Minister met Mr Mackinnon to discuss the National Planning Framework on 20 November 2007 and the Forth Replacement Crossing on 5 December. On 7 December they discussed by telephone the current position with a development proposal for Aviemore which had been the subject of enquiries to him from a number of MSPs. Mr Salmond has only spoken to Mr Mackinnon on the question of the Menie Estate proposal in his capacity as MSP for Gordon.

Planning

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the occasions on which the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth (a) met and (b) spoke to Mr Jim Mackinnon, Chief Planner, between 20 November and 10 December 2007, also showing the matters discussed on each occasion.

John Swinney: The Chief Planner and I discuss planning issues on a regular basis. We met on 20 November 2007 to discuss the National Planning Framework. On 26 November, we met at a meeting of local authority planning directors. On 5 December, we met to discuss the Forth Replacement Crossing and we both attended a dinner with SNH that evening. We met on 6 December to discuss the Asset Management Review.

  On 3 December, I contacted the Chief Planner to receive a general update on the events surrounding the proposed golf resort at Menie Estate. And during a telephone conversation on 4 December the call in of the Menie Estate planning application was discussed and approved.

  We discuss planning matters regularly by telephone but a formal record of every telephone call is not kept.

Planning

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will publish the advice that he received on the legal basis for calling in planning applications after they have been rejected by the relevant local planning authorities and where no appeal has been lodged.

John Swinney: It is Scottish Government practice neither to confirm or deny whether legal advice has been received.

Planning

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what planning applications have been called in without an appeal by the applicant and following refusal by the local planning authority since May 2007.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications it has called in for a decision by ministers after a local decision to refuse consent was made; how many of these were called in without an appeal by the developer, and how many were ultimately given planning consent by ministers in each year since 1999.

John Swinney: Scottish ministers have no power to call in a planning application after the written notice of refusal has been issued by a planning authority.

Planning

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place since May 1999 between the Chief Planner and developers on applications that were subsequently called in and whether it will list those applications.

John Swinney: Information in the form requested is not held centrally.

Planning

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning proposals were called in after a decision to refuse planning permission had been taken by a local authority between the establishment of the Parliament in May 1999 and 30 November 2007.

John Swinney: None. The decision to call in the application was taken before Aberdeenshire Council had issued its decision. The decision to call in this application was subsequently welcomed by Aberdeenshire Council.

Planning

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications it has called in and determined without recourse to a public inquiry under the terms of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 between the establishment of the Parliament in May 1999 and 30 November 2007.

John Swinney: Planning applications can be called in by Scottish ministers under powers contained in section 46 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. Since May 1999, 163 planning applications have been called in by ministers and determined following forms of scrutiny other than public local inquiry.

Planning

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses to determine whether a planning application is of national significance.

John Swinney: It depends on the individual circumstances of the case.

Planning

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications have been determined as being of national significance before a local planning decision was made; how many were so determined after planning consent had been granted by the local planning authority, and how many after planning consent had been refused by the local planning authority in each year since 1999.

John Swinney: Since 1999 Scottish ministers have called in 380 planning applications and have recalled 287 planning appeals for their own determination.

Planning

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases since May 1999 ministers have called in a planning application after the local authority has rejected it.

John Swinney: Scottish ministers have no power to call in a planning application after the written notice of refusal has been issued by a planning authority.

Public Private Partnerships

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget provision it made in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08 to meet payments to local authorities for schools PPP projects; what the actual spending against budget was in 2005-06 and 2006-07; what the estimated amount is for 2007-08, and what provision is estimated to be needed between the budgets of the Executive or local authorities to meet the payments required for such projects approved by the last administration but having a funding consequence during the next three financial years, showing the (i) estimated spending required and (ii) extent to which such spending has been provided for in the revenue support agreed for local authorities in (A) 2008-09, (B) 2009-10 and (C) 2010-11.

Maureen Watt: Scottish Government budget provision for schools PPP revenue support offered to local authorities was initially £100 million, £80 million and £100 million in 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively. However, the funding requirements are dependent on progress on the PPP projects. Actual spend on schools PPP revenue support was £5.02 million in 2005-06, £17.585 million in 2006-07 and is estimated to be £41.979 million in 2007-08.

  Funding support increases as PPP schools are completed. For the next three years, following discussion with COSLA, the Government are allocating that element of the funding associated with schools PPP projects according to the forecasts of spending which each Council has provided. To that extent, although schools PPP support will be rolled up within an overall total grant figure, the funding which each Council which is due support will receive over the three years 2008-11 will take direct account of the expenditure they have indicated they will expect to make.

  Government PPP revenue support relates to a proportion of the capital value of projects. It is for local authorities to decide how they will fund the rest, and any other elements of the unitary charge payable to PPP consortia, from within the overall resources available to them.

Regeneration

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7388 by Stewart Maxwell on 10 December 2007, what the value is of each of the contributor funds which make up the regeneration fund in the current financial year.

Stewart Maxwell: In 2007-08, the values of the original allocations of the seven component funds which make up the regeneration fund were as follows:

  

 Fund
2007-08 Value
(£ Million)


 Changing Children’s Services*
 5


 Community Regeneration Fund
 108.5


 Community Voices Fund
 3.2


 Financial Inclusion Fund
 5.3


 More Choices More Chances (NEET)*
 2.4


 Workforce Plus*
 5.6


 Working For Families
 15


 Total
 145



  Note: *Social Inclusion Element.

Roads

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make funds available from the 2007-08 underspend to ensure that improvements on the A9 in Caithness and Sutherland can go ahead.

Stewart Stevenson: The spending review allocations I published on 14 November 2007 will provide sufficient resources to manage and maintain the trunk road network over the next three years.

Schools

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special schools have been closed in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years.

Maureen Watt: Information on primary, secondary and special schools which have opened and closed since 1996-97 is available on the Scottish Government website at:   http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/openingsnarrative07 .

  The information has been derived from information collected annually by the Scottish Government on the opening and closing of schools. Both local authority and independent schools are included.

  It should be noted that the schools listed are those identified as separate institutions for administrative purposes. Schools which may appear to have closed (or opened) may have done so only in administrative terms, for example, where a school has merged with another school under a new name while education provision continues on the same campus. This may particularly be the case with units for pupils with additional support needs which may have separated from or joined with mainstream schools in administrative terms without any change in provision.

Schools

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the condition was of each (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special school building that was closed in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years.

Maureen Watt: The condition of any school at the time of its closure would have been be a matter for the local authority concerned.

Schools

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children were relocated from (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special schools as a result of school closures in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government does not collect information on the number of pupils relocated as a result of school closures.

  Information on the school rolls from 1996 to 2006 of all primary, secondary and special schools in each local authority area is available on the Scottish Government website at:   http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/HistoricalRolls2006.

  Information is derived from the annual school census in September of each year. Both local authority and independent schools are included. In general, a school roll dropping to zero would signify that the school has closed in the year in question, and the roll in the preceding year would indicate the approximate number of pupils who may have been relocated.

  Information on primary, secondary and special schools which have opened and closed since 1996-97 is also available on the Scottish Government website at:  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/openingsnarrative07.

  The information has been derived from information collected annually by the Scottish Government on the opening and closing of schools. Both local authority and independent schools are included.

  Schools which may have closed can be identified from this data set and then compared with the school roll information contained in the historical school rolls in the data set referred to above.

  It should be noted that the schools listed in both data sets are those identified as separate institutions for administrative purposes. Schools which may appear to have closed (or opened) may have done so only in administrative terms, for example, where a school has merged with another school under a new name while education provision continues on the same campus. This may particularly be the case with units for pupils with additional support needs which may have separated from or joined with mainstream schools in administrative terms without any change in provision.

Scottish Futures Trust

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make available details of its Scottish Futures Trust initiative.

John Swinney: A consultation document setting out the government’s proposals for the Scottish Futures Trust initiative will be issued today and can be accessed on the Scottish Government Website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current .

  A copy of the document is also available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44335).

Scottish Government Consultation

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reviews and (b) consultations have been initiated in each cabinet secretary’s portfolio area since May 2007.

Bruce Crawford: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  

 Portfolio Area
 Reviews
 Consultations


 First Minister
 2
 2


 Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
 12
 26


 Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
 8
 4


 Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
 10
 22


 Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
 14
 11


 Cabinet Secretary for Justice 
 8
 14


 Total
 54
 79

Scottish Government Expenditure

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the percentage changes in real terms in its budget in each year from 2007-08 to 2010-11.

John Swinney: As indicated in Chapter 1 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, the Scottish Government received real terms year on year DEL increases of 0.5%, 1.6% and 2.3% for years 2008-09 to 2010-11 respectively from HM Treasury as part of the CSR settlement.

Scottish Ministerial Code

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6783 by Bruce Crawford on 3 December 2007, when the review of the Scottish Ministerial Code will be concluded.

Bruce Crawford: The review is expected to be concluded in the near future and a revised version of the code will be published by the First Minister soon after.

Scottish Ministerial Code

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6786 by Bruce Crawford on 3 December 2007, whether the review of the Scottish Ministerial Code will include consideration of having an independent adviser to investigate breaches of the code, similar to the approach taken by Prime Minister, Gordon Brown MP.

Bruce Crawford: In line with the practice after each Scottish parliamentary election, the Scottish Ministerial Code is currently being reviewed. The review will consider a number of issues and will be published in the near future.

Scottish Ministerial Code

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether section 6.11 of the Scottish Ministerial Code, which states that "Ministers, and in particular the Planning Minister, must do nothing which might be seen as prejudicial to that process, particularly in advance of the decision being taken", has been breached by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, in light of any visit to the Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, New York on 2 December 2007.

John Swinney: If the member wishes to make a formal allegation about me in relation to the Scottish Ministerial Code then he should write to the First Minister.

  The circumstances surrounding my attendance at the Globalscot reception at the Trump National Golf Club have been presented, in full, to the Parliament, in response to a number of other parliamentary questions.

  Section 6.11 of the Ministerial Code advises that ministers should not act in a way that might be viewed as being prejudicial to the planning process, citing as particular examples: (i) taking a decision, or being part of the decision-making process, in respect of an application which falls within the minister’s constituency; (ii) expressing an opinion publicly on a particular case which is, or may subsequently come, before the minister for decision; (iii) meeting the developer or objectors to discuss the proposal, but not meeting all parties with an interest in the decision; or (iv) commenting on decisions once they have been issued, other than in terms of what has appeared in the decision letter or, in the case of structure plan approvals, any accompanying explanatory annexes.

  In the course of my attendance at the event held at the Trump National Golf Club, I took no decisions about the Trump Organization’s planning application regarding the Menie estate; expressed no public opinion on the application; met no members of the Trump Organization, which was not, in any case, represented at the event; met no objectors to the application, and made no comment on any decision relating to the application, as none had been taken at that time.

  For the avoidance of doubt, and contrary to media reports, I did not receive any hospitality from the Trump Organization whilst attending this event, nor did I play a round of golf, a sport in which I have not participated since approximately 1975.

Sewerage

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Code of Practice on Sewerage Nuisance.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Odour Steering Group, which produced the code, continue to monitor its compliance and effectiveness. The group is chaired by officials from the Scottish Government with membership drawn from Scottish Water and local authorities.

  The group also implemented a web based Odourhub in August 2007 to validate complaints submitted to local authorities against those submitted to Scottish Water.

  The group will also undertake a formal evaluation of the code’s effectiveness in August 2008.

St Andrew's Day

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5865 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 November 2007, how many companies were invited to tender for the Saltire flags; which companies were invited, and how many Saltires were purchased.

Linda Fabiani: It is Scottish Government policy that goods and services are procured through competition that demonstrate fairness, openness and transparency at all stages of the process. Decisions are based on value for money, without discrimination on the basis of nationality or locality. All Saltires used by the Scottish Government for promotional purposes are sourced through RR Donnelley (Astron), who were appointed in October 2004, for a three-year contract, after a comprehensive procurement process in line with Government Procurement Policy and the EU Procurement Directives. This contract was awarded with an option of two further one-year extensions and currently operates on a one-year extension. Flags sourced through this supplier are from a variety of manufacturers and include sources in Scotland, other UK countries and overseas. The flags sent out to pre schools and universities and colleges were from existing stock.

Supporting People

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held with organisations representing people with disabilities regarding the removal of ring fencing from the Supporting People Grant.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held with organisations representing elderly people regarding the removal of ring fencing from the Supporting People Grant.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings are planned with organisations representing elderly people regarding the removal of ring fencing from the Supporting People Grant.

Stewart Maxwell: No meetings have yet been held with organisations representing disabled or older people about the removal of the ring fence on Supporting People, but discussions with a wide range of stakeholders are planned between now and March 2008. Local authorities will continue to have a responsibility to support the most vulnerable people in their communities, ensuring for example that their needs are reflected in local housing strategies. We expect housing support services to have an important role to play in helping to achieve several of the new national indicators, and removing the ring fencing will allow more flexible construction of support packages for individuals.

  However, we recognise concerns exist in any transition period. We therefore look forward to discussing with COSLA, local authorities, providers and others how to best ensure that vulnerable people continue to be effectively supported, looking for example at how the interests of the most vulnerable in our society can be appropriately reflected in single outcome agreements with local authorities.

Teachers

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are expected to begin teacher training courses in each of the next four years.

Maureen Watt: The annual intakes to teacher training courses are matters for the Scottish Funding Council. The Scottish Government offers advice to the Funding Council on these matters and the advice for 2008-09 is currently being prepared.

Teachers

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many student teachers are expected to successfully complete teacher training courses in each of the next four years.

Maureen Watt: The number of student teachers successfully completing their courses in the next four years will depend on two factors, the numbers currently on the four year BEd degree courses and the number entering the one year Professional Graduate Diploma in Education courses. The intake to courses is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government offers the Council advice on this issue. The advice for 2008-09 is being prepared.

Teachers

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers are expected to retire in each of the next four years.

Maureen Watt: In the annual teacher workforce planning exercise the number of teachers retiring each year are not distinguished from those leaving for other reasons.

Teachers

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the recent announcement on teachers’ pay will mean for Scottish education.

Fiona Hyslop: I am pleased that we have reached this agreement, which is worth over 7% to teachers over the next three years (2.25% for 2008-09, 2.5% for 2009-10 and 2.4% for 2010-11).

  The deal struck by all three parties within the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers - the teachers organisations, COSLA and the Scottish Government - demonstrates the benefits of our shared commitment to improving the lives of Scotland’s children.

  The deal is a fair one with real benefits for pupils and schools as well as teachers and will provide the stability to allow a focus on improving educational outcomes for our children.

Tourism

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the new Welcome to Scotland advertising logo cost to develop.

Linda Fabiani: Welcome to Scotland is not a slogan or a logo – it is a simple and straightforward welcome to those arriving in our country. No money was used to develop the "Welcome to Scotland" message. The message reflects recommendations from customer research and evaluation undertaken in March 2006 and 2007. Design, printing and installation of the new airport campaign cost £125,000 from existing budgets.

Tourism

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates it will cost to place the new Welcome to Scotland advertising logo in appropriate locations and whether it will list such locations.

Linda Fabiani: Welcome to Scotland is not an advertising logo. It is a simple and straightforward welcome to those arriving in our country. The new posters are replacing existing Scottish Government posters at Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Prestwick airports. The cost of renting the sites at the six airports from August 2007 until July 2008 is £497,101.78. The cost of rental of these spaces from August 2006 to July 2007 was £505,502.90

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who was present at the meeting between the First Minister and representatives of the Trump Organization on 3 December 2007.

John Swinney: Mr Salmond took part in this meeting in his capacity as the MSP for Gordon. It is therefore not appropriate for the Government to answer. I refer the member to the Official Report , column number 4433, on 13 December 2007. The official report is available on the Parliament’s website at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/index.htm .

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who was present at the meeting between the Chief Planner and representatives of the Trump Organization on 4 December 2007.

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a list of those in attendance at the meeting between the Chief Planner and representatives of the Trump Organization on 4 December 2007 concerning the planning application for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

John Swinney: The meeting was attended by Jim Mackinnon, Chief Planner and David Ferguson, Head of Planning Decisions, Scottish Government along with George Sorial and Neil Hobday, from the Trump Organization.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the meeting between the First Minister and representatives of the Trump Organization on 3 December 2007, whether any government resources were used (a) in advance of or (b) at the meeting.

John Swinney: As a result of the unusual amount of public interest in the First Minister’s travel to this meeting, the Permanent Secretary has personally considered what use was made of the Government Car Service on this occasion. He has noted that it is commonplace for civil servants, including special advisors, to travel with ministers in government cars, in order to assist ministers to use time spent travelling to progress government business; and that it is also common for the minister’s government car to convey such civil servants to their destination, where it is different from the minister’s destination. He is satisfied that the use made of the Government Car Service in this case was consistent with such general practice and was both appropriate and pragmatic.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the meeting between the First Minister and representatives of the Trump Organization on 3 December 2007, whether the First Minister’s office contacted the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and (b) Chief Planner following the meeting.

John Swinney: Mr Salmond did not contact me. On 3 December 2007, the Chief Planner took a call from Mr Salmond in his capacity as constituency MSP. Mr Salmond sought advice from the Chief Planner whether it would still be permissible for officials from the Scottish Government Planning Directorate to meet representatives from the Trump Organization. The Chief Planner confirmed that officials can meet with parties involved in a planning application but only to discuss options and the procedural implications, not to consider the merits of the case.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister received a request to meet representatives of the Trump Organization on or around 3 December 2007.

John Swinney: The request was made in Mr Salmond’s capacity as constituency MSP.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister informed Executive officials of a request to meet representatives of the Trump Organization on or around 3 December 2007 and, if so, what advice he received.

John Swinney: Mr Salmond sought advice from the Chief Planner and the Head of Planning Decisions Division, in his capacity as MSP for Gordon on 29 and 30 November 2007. This confirmed Mr Salmond as constituency MSP was entitled to represent properly the interests of constituents.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister will make a statement on the matters discussed at his meeting with representatives of the Trump Organization at the Marcliffe Hotel on 3 December 2007.

John Swinney: As Mr Salmond attended the meeting in his capacity as a constituency MSP, it would be inappropriate for him to make a statement as First Minister. Mr Salmond has, however, answered questions about this meeting at First Minister’s Question Time on 13 December 2007. The official report is available on the Parliament’s website at:   http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/index.htm .

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the ministers and officials with whom the First Minister subsequently discussed matters arising from his meeting with representatives of the Trump Organization at the Marcliffe Hotel on 3 December 2007.

John Swinney: In his capacity as constituency MSP Mr Salmond spoke to Jim Mackinnon, Chief Planner following the meeting. Mr Salmond sought advice from the Chief Planner on whether it would still be permissible for the officials from the Scottish Government Planning Directorate to meet representatives from the Trump Organization.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all minutes and other documentation relating to the Trump Organization application for a golf development at the Menie Estate, Aberdeenshire, into which the First Minister’s Private Office has been copied since May 2007.

John Swinney: We are giving immediate consideration to the publication of information alongside requests made under Freedom of Information legislation. I will write to advise when this has been made available.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister has had contact with any representative of the Trump Organization subsequent to his meeting with representatives of the organisation at the Marcliffe Hotel on 3 December 2007.

John Swinney: Mr Salmond has had no contact with the Trump Organization in his capacity as First Minister. The meeting referred to was undertaken by Mr Salmond in his capacity as constituency MSP for Gordon.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the legislative basis is for the decision to call in the Trump Organization’s planning application for a golf development at the Menie Estate, subsequent to it being determined by the local planning authority.

John Swinney: The call-in was made under Section 46 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. As the council had yet to issue notice of its decision on the case the application was still live at the time when it was called in by the Scottish Government.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the occasions on which the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has discussed the Trump Organization’s planning application for a golf development at the Menie Estate with the First Minister.

John Swinney: Some weeks prior to the meeting of the Infrastructure Services Committee of Aberdeenshire Council I advised the First Minister that I intended to determine the Menie Estate planning application if it required ministerial input as Mr Stevenson represented an Aberdeenshire constituency. On 4 December 2007, I advised the First Minister that the application had been called in.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all those who have made representations that the Trump Organization’s planning application for a golf development at the Menie Estate should be called in, subsequent to it being determined by the local planning authority.

John Swinney: We will in due course publish a list of all representations that have been received by the Scottish Government’s Planning Directorate.

Trump Organization Planning Application

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the meetings at which the First Minister discussed the Trump Organization’s planning application for a golf development at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

John Swinney: Mr Salmond has not attended meetings or discussed that planning application in his capacity as First Minister.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the First Minister declared his constituency interest in the planning proposals for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire and what communications have been issued from the First Minister’s office to civil servants concerning these proposals since that date.

John Swinney: Mr Salmond’s constituency interest in this proposal commenced immediately following his election to the Gordon constituency in May. We are giving immediate consideration to the publication of information alongside requests made under Freedom of Information legislation. I will write to advise when this has been made available.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Chief Planner was given the instruction by ministers to call in the planning application for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

John Swinney: 4 December 2007.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner was given an instruction by ministers to telephone Aberdeenshire Council on 4 December 2007 concerning the planning application for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

John Swinney: No.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner had a telephone conversation with Aberdeenshire Council on 4 December 2007 concerning the planning application for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire and, if so, who was present in the room during this conversation.

John Swinney: The Chief Planner made two telephone calls to the Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council on the afternoon of 4 December 2007. David Ferguson, Head of Planning Decisions was present during both conversations. The first of these calls was to request an update on the status of the council’s consideration of the application. The Chief Planner advised the Chief Executive that representatives from the Trump Organization were present in the room. At the request of the Chief Executive those representatives of the Trump Organization left the room for the duration of the call. The second call to the Chief Executive was to advise that the planning application was to be called in by the Scottish ministers. The Chief Planner and the Head of Planning Decisions were the only people in the room during that telephone call.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the meeting held on 4 December 2007 between the Chief Planner and representatives of the Trump Organization to discuss the proposals for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire was arranged and who initiated the meeting.

John Swinney: On 3 December 2007 the Chief Planner took a call from Mr Salmond in his capacity as constituency MSP. Mr Salmond sought advice from the Chief Planner on whether it would still be permissible for the officials of the Scottish Government Planning Directorate to meet representatives of the Trump Organization. A request was then made by the Trump Organization representatives. The Chief Planner arranged the time and venue.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any civil servants or special advisers travelled with or accompanied the First Minister to the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen on 3 December 2007.

John Swinney: As a result of the unusual amount of public interest in the First Minister’s travel to this meeting, the Permanent Secretary has personally considered what use was made of the Government Car Service on this occasion. He has noted that it is commonplace for civil servants, including special advisors, to travel with ministers in government cars, in order to assist ministers to use time spent travelling to progress government business, and that it is also common for the minister’s government car to convey such civil servants to their destination, where it is different from the minister’s destination. He is satisfied that the use made of the Government Car Service in this case was consistent with such general practice and was both appropriate and pragmatic.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth was consulted before the Chief Planner agreed to meet the Trump Organization subsequent to the First Minister’s meeting with it and, if so, whether it will publish the advice given to the Cabinet Secretary by his officials.

John Swinney: The meeting referred to was undertaken by Mr Salmond in his capacity as constituency MSP. I was not consulted nor was it necessary to do so.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will release minutes of any discussions between the Chief Planner and the developers of the Menie Estate proposals.

John Swinney: A minute of the meeting of 4 December 2007 is being published today and will be available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/FOI/Disclosures .

Trump Organization Planning Application

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by what process the called-in application for Menie Estate will be considered.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures and legislative instruments will be applied by ministers in dealing with the called-in planning application by the Trump Organization for a golf course, hotel and residential development on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

John Swinney: This has not yet been decided.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons were for not calling in the Menie Estate proposal prior to the decision to refuse planning permission by the Infrastructure Services Committee of Aberdeenshire Council.

John Swinney: There was a general expectation that the proposal would come before ministers, either through the application being notified had Aberdeenshire Council resolved to grant consent, or via an appeal against refusal of planning permission.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether SSSI designations on the Menie Estate will require to be considered by the Scottish Government in determining the planning application that it has called in.

John Swinney: All relevant material considerations will be taken into account in the determination of the planning application.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister will make a ministerial statement regarding the decision to call in the Menie Estate planning application.

John Swinney: As the application site lies within the First Minister’s constituency he is debarred from any planning decisions in this proposed development. It would also be inappropriate for any minister to pass comment on a planning application which is currently before them for determination.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how long it expects its consideration of the Trump Organization’s planning application for a golf course, hotel and residential development on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire to take.

John Swinney: The timescale will depend on the procedures to be followed.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what policies and legislation it, or any Reporter appointed to consider the called-in planning application by the Trump Organization for a golf course, hotel and residential development on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire, anticipates will be considered as part of the evaluation of the impacts on the site of special scientific interest.

John Swinney: All relevant material considerations will be taken into account in the determination of the planning application.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants have spoken to journalists about the proposed development at the Menie Estate, Aberdeenshire, since September 2007, specifying in each case the relevant media outlets.

John Swinney: No records are kept of specific conversations between ministers, special advisers and civil servants with the media. However, I can confirm that communications officers on both the Communications First Minister and Communications Finance desks have responded to a range of media enquiries, as have media special advisers.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7521 by John Swinney on 13 December 2007, whether the determination of the planning application on the proposed Trump development, now that it has been called in, will specifically consider the extent to which it contributes towards or detracts from the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 as a relevant material consideration.

John Swinney: All relevant material considerations will be taken into account in the determination of the planning application.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth or the First Minister will apologise to the Parliament for any factual inaccuracies by special advisers on 13 December 2007 when briefing the media about the telephone conversations between the Chief Planner and Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council on 4 December 2007.

John Swinney: Special advisers did not brief factual inaccuracies to the media.

  All information given to Parliament on this issue has been correct.

  The BBC approached Scottish Government officials on 12 December 2007 with questions relating to the Chief Planner’s telephone contacts with Aberdeenshire Council. Those questions were answered correctly on December 12. On December 13, the BBC refined its question by changing a limited number of words. During the course of a busy day in which we fielded a large number of questions from a range of parties about the Trump application, officials did not realise the question had been changed slightly and repeated an answer given the previous evening. Once the mistake was identified officials clarified the position to the media at the earliest opportunity. We always strive to supply full and accurate answers to media enquiries and I regret that this unfortunate but easily understood error occurred on this occasion.

Trump Organization Planning Application

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all telephone calls about the Trump Organization’s planning application for a golf course, hotel and residential development on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire between civil servants, ministers or special advisers and representatives of (a) the Trump Organization and (b) Aberdeenshire Council since May 2007.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.